em
and at me. The corn seemed to duck and tremble as it waited the
volley. A great black ball shot across the sky in a long curve,
and began to fall. Then came the word, a flash of fire, a cloud of
smoke, a roar of rifles that made me jump in my tracks. I heard
bullets cuffing the corn, I felt the dirt fly up and scatter over
me, but was unhurt, a rigid, motionless man of straw. I saw my
countrymen reel, their legs go limp as rags, their bodies fall
silently forward. The soldiers stood a moment, then a squad went
after the dead with litters. Forming in fours, they marched away
as they had come, their steps measured by that regular _rap! rap!
rap-rap-rap_! of the drum. The last rank went out of sight. I
moved a little and pulled the stake, and quickly stuck it again,
for there were voices near. I stood waiting as stiff as a poker.
Some men were running along the beach, two others were coming
through the corn. They passed within a few feet of me on each
side. I heard them talking with much animation. They spoke of the
wreck. When they were well by me I faced about, watching them.
They went away in the timber, down to a rocky point, where I knew
the wreck was visible.

They were no sooner out of sight than I pulled the stake and sabre,
and shoved the latter under my big coat. Then I lifted the beaver
and looked about me. There was not a soul in sight. From that
level plain the field ran far to a thick wood mounting over the
hill. I moved cautiously that way, for I was in the path of people
who would be coming to see the wreck. I got near the edge of the
distant wood, and hearing a noise, halted, and stuck my stake, and
drew my hands back in the sleeves, and stood like a scarecrow,
peering through my hat. Near me, in the woods, I could hear a
cracking of sticks and a low voice. Shortly two Irishmen stuck
their heads out of a bush. My heart gave a leap in me, for I saw
they were members of my troop.

"Hello, there!" I called in a loud voice, It startled them. They
turned their heads to see where the voice came from, and stood
motionless. I pulled my stake and made for them on the run. I
should have known better, for the sight of me would have tried the
legs of the best trooper that ever sat in a saddle. As they told
me afterward, it was enough to make a lion yelp.

"Holy Mother!" said one, as they broke through the bush, running
for their lives. I knew not their names, but I called them as
lo